UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
TWAIN JEMETRE ROBINSON,
Defendant-Appellant.

No. 00-4479

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Western District of North Carolina, at Charlotte.
Robert D. Potter, Senior District Judge.
(CR-99-201-P)
Submitted: April 10, 2001
Decided: May 3, 2001
Before LUTTIG, MICHAEL, and KING, Circuit Judges.

Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

COUNSEL
R. Deke Falls, BENDER & BARNETT, Charlotte, North Carolina,
for Appellant. Kenneth Michel Smith, OFFICE OF THE UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY, Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See

Local Rule 36(c).

UNITED STATES v. ROBINSON

OPINION
PER CURIAM:
Twain J. Robinson pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. 371
(West 2000). Robinsons counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders
v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), asserting that there are no meritorious issues for appeal. Advised of his right to file a pro se supplemental brief, Robinson has not done so.
Robinson signed a written plea agreement in which he agreed to
waive the right to appeal his conviction or sentence, except for claims
of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct. A
waiver of appeal provision in a valid plea agreement is enforceable
if it results from a knowing and intelligent decision to forgo an
appeal. United States v. Attar, 38 F.3d 727, 731 (4th Cir. 1994);
United States v. Wiggins, 905 F.2d 51, 53 (4th Cir. 1990). A waiver
is ineffective if the district court fails to question the defendant about
it, United States v. Wessells, 936 F.2d 165, 167-68 (4th Cir. 1991),
unless other evidence in the record shows that the waiver was
informed and voluntary. United States v. Davis, 954 F.2d 182, 186
(4th Cir. 1992). We review de novo the validity of a waiver. United
States v. Brown, 232 F.3d 399, 402-03 (4th Cir. 2000).
Here, Robinson signed the plea agreement, agreeing to waive the
right to challenge the conviction or sentence with the stated exceptions. The Government summarized the plea agreement at the Fed. R.
Crim. P. 11 hearing. In response to the magistrate judges inquiry,
Robinson agreed that the right to appeal the conviction and sentence
was expressly waived in the plea agreement. He said he was happy
with the services of his counsel and that he had heard and understood
the Rule 11 proceeding. On this record, we conclude that Robinsons
waiver was knowingly and intelligently made. As the only claim
counsel asserts in his brief involves sentencing, it is barred by Robinsons valid waiver of his appeal rights. United States v. Marin, 961
F.2d 493, 496 (4th Cir. 1992).
We have examined the entire record in this case in accordance with
the requirements of Anders, and find no meritorious issues for appeal.

UNITED STATES v. ROBINSON

We therefore dismiss the appeal. This court requires that counsel

inform his client, in writing, of his right to petition the Supreme Court
of the United States for further review. If the client requests that a
petition be filed, but counsel believes that such a petition would be
frivolous, then counsel may move in this court for leave to withdraw
from representation. Counsels motion must state that a copy thereof
was served on the client.
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and
argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED